The spring holiday floral season is just about upon us. For many shops, studios, and designers, that means hiring help to deal with the rush caused by Valentine’s Day, Administrative Professional’s Week, Easter, and Mother’s Day. Hortica Retail Sales Specialist Maria Shepherd discovered there are ways to help make sure the employees you hire are successful in their new jobs.

In the article “A better way to explain the job to candidates,” published October 18, 2018, in MultiBriefs, author Catherine Iste takes a look at how retention is directly related to giving new employees a clear understanding of their position when they’re hired.

For example, a delivery driver applicant can hit the ground running for Valentine’s Day if they know in advance they’ll be expected to help clean flowers in-between deliveries. Or, informing the designer you hired for Mother’s Day that they may need to help answer phones, so they’ll be more apt to pick up when they hear lines ringing—instead of being told to do so.

Best practices

Iste says employers should start by having the tough, honest conversations up front. Explain your company’s:

Priorities

Culture

Benefits

Salary ranges

Raise process

Promotion schedule

Having this conversation up front changes the dynamic of the interview process. Critical issues are addressed, and any misconceptions or expectations can be dealt with immediately.

Types of work

Once there’s an understanding of the job culture, salary, and work expectations, you’ll want to discuss the three major types of work and how these play out in the new employee’s role. They include:

Desk work

Thinking time

Meeting commitments

By explaining the quantity and quality of each type of work, you not only provide a clear picture of how the employee will spend their days and weeks, it also helps build an understanding of your company’s priorities and culture.

Iste says bottom line, the best advice is to stop trying to sell candidates on how great the organization is. Instead, clearly explain the good, bad, and ugly, upfront.

Given a clear understanding of your expectations, your new employees will feel more confident and be part of the team early on. Floral operations with long-term workers typically have a happy staff that are loyal to the company. This positive attitude can foster a sense of pride and ownership on the job and can help keep frivolous or fraudulent employee claims at bay.

Talk with your Hortica agent about any questions you might have about your policies and coverages. They’ll be happy to sit down with you and make sure you have the protection you need.

Related links:

For more information on protecting your business, check out the Hortica Resources section.

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